Manchester South Central Foodbank asks for local community support

As a city, Manchester is the fourth most deprived place in the country – with the second lowest average income. In five wards in Greater Manchester half of all children live in poverty – Moss Side, Hulme, Ancoats and Clayton in Manchester and Irwell Riverside in Salford (Greater Manchester Poverty Commission, 2013).

Recognising this worsening crisis local residents of South Central Manchester (Hulme, Moss Side and Whalley Range) have taken up the task of ensuring emergency food provision is available to local residents in crisis. With the support of Trussel Trust and local churches, the Manchester South Central Foodbank is about to launch and will be providing support to people in food poverty across their locality.

“The current economic climate means more and more people are struggling to put food on the table, so we really need local citizens to give what they can to help” says Evelyn Asante-Mensah, OBE, Chair of Manchester South Central Foodbank. “It’s not just people on low incomes who are feeling the pinch at the moment, increased redundancy and fewer jobs are having a real financial impact on local people.”

Evidence submitted to the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission (2013) suggests food poverty is increasing. Many of those living in poverty are not unemployed but homeowners and families with children, often surviving on part-time work. Evidence also shows that the majority of people taking out payday loans are using them to cover essential items such as food, nappies, fuel or other bills. Some really do have to choose whether to ‘heat or eat’.

Manchester South Central Foodbank are holding a pre-launch event for local residents, schools and businesses to attend where they can find out about the Foodbank and sign up to offer whatever time, other resources or donations they can to support the initiative.

The event will be held on 20 November, 7pm at Whalley Range Methodist Church, Withington Road, Whalley Range, M16 7EX.

The Trussell Trust’s foodbank aims to help people through short term crisis by providing emergency food parcels. South Central Manchester foodbank also aims to provide support and signposting to help combat the long term problem of food poverty.

For further information, contact Sade, on 0784 209 3922, or email: [email protected]